Removing scratches from clear perspex

[All_at_Sea]

Is this possible, has anyone any experience of trying to remove scratches from perspex. I'm wondering whether they can be polished out?

 

[VicS]

Provided not too deep they ceratinly can be polished out. Metal polish is the traditional "compound" for light scratching but there are Perspex polishes available which I an sure Google will find.

 

[Momac]

This might be worth a try
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/...-polish.aspx?gclid=CKO42IXn9rECFYQhtAodyDEANA

 

[nimbusgb]

Yup, can be done. Hard work but I have polished scratches out of aircraft canopies with micromesh

 

[V1701]

This might be worth a try
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/...-polish.aspx?gclid=CKO42IXn9rECFYQhtAodyDEANA

I've used that (Meguiar's Plast-Rx) to reasonable effect on fogged sprayhood windows, I don't think it would remove scratches from perspex though...

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

In used a polishing mop and G3 Farecla cutting compound followed by polish to finish - basically the same technique as restoring gel coat and it worked a treat on my saloon windows.

Low speed and plenty of lubrication is essential

 

[Bobc]

Acrylic polish or Solvol Autosol with a polishing machine both work well.

 

[All_at_Sea]

Thanks

Thanks everyone, l'll give it a go.

 

[uxb]

Try toothpaste.... It will polish out light scratching and will cost you nothing to try....

 

[MM5AHO]

Toothpaste +1

I use it on compass too. Great for that crazed faded look that perspex of 30 years gets.

 

[BERT T]

In used a polishing mop and G3 Farecla cutting compound followed by polish to finish - basically the same technique as restoring gel coat and it worked a treat on my saloon windows.

Low speed and plenty of lubrication is essential

Also works very well on VW Passat headlights.

 

[Dabhand]

Brasso works well.

 

[TopDonkey]

If your going to try toothpaste, get the cheapest possible toothpaste that you can find, tesco value or similar, the modern toothpastes seem to contain very little abrasives now, i used some colgate sensitive on my dive mask and it did absolutely nothing to it !, then i tried the little tube of free toothpaste you get on virgin flights and that worked a treat

 

[rob2]

Once had a couple of friends drop into the boatyard on their way home from a night away. Looking for something useful to do, they cleaned the waterline with tothpaste and toothbrushes! Best ever - I wonder if it was a whitening type..?

Polishing should remove the myriad smaller scratches which can make perspex/acrylic almost opaque, but it reminds me of my motorcycling days when I would use spray furniture polish on my visor to extend its useful life. It temporarily fills the scratches that won't come out and prevents all the glare those can cause.

Rob.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

.... Looking for something useful to do, they cleaned the waterline with tothpaste and toothbrushes .....

What strange people. Did you let them sleep in the cockpit locker as well?

 

[nigelmercier]

Any reason why you wouldn't use Perspex polish?

Next best thing would be G3 or similar product for car paint.

Whatever you use, it should have a grit that wears away as you polish: unlike toothpaste!

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

had G3 on board - didn't know you could get perspex polish but anyway it would be another bottle when I only needed enough for a few windows

 

[lw395]

I recently bought a bench grinder on eBay. The 'clear' safety eye screen was completely opaque, with embedded rust and cloudy plastic where I guess it had been left in the sun. I cleaned it up using a few grades of wet and dry paper followed by solvol autosol which is a fairly coarse metal polish, followed by T-cut.

I recall it's a good idea to wash the tcut etc off fairly thoroughly as it contains oils which may yellow some plastics?

You can get w&d paper in 2000 or even higher grades now, worth going to the finest grade you can IMHO if you have to sand scratches out, but starting with too fine a grade is just a waste of time.

 

[erbster]

+1 for micromesh

 

[Marine Reflections]

I recently bought a bench grinder on eBay. The 'clear' safety eye screen was completely opaque, with embedded rust and cloudy plastic where I guess it had been left in the sun. I cleaned it up using a few grades of wet and dry paper followed by solvol autosol which is a fairly coarse metal polish, followed by T-cut.

I recall it's a good idea to wash the tcut etc off fairly thoroughly as it contains oils which may yellow some plastics?

You can get w&d paper in 2000 or even higher grades now, worth going to the finest grade you can IMHO if you have to sand scratches out, but starting with too fine a grade is just a waste of time.

+1